Backplane connector with improved metal shield surrounding member

Abstract

A backplane connector includes a housing and a number of mounting modules. The housing includes a base defining a number of receiving grooves. The mounting modules are assembled to the receiving grooves. Each mounting module includes an insulating body, a terminal module installed in the insulating body, and a metal shield surrounding member sleeved on the insulating body. The metal shield surrounding member includes a surrounding portion and a mounting portion extending downwardly from the surrounding portion. The surrounding portion is formed by four side walls so as to form a fully-enclosed shielding cavity. As a result, the shielding effect and the grounding return effect of the backplane connector are improved.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A backplane connector, comprising:
 a housing comprising a base, a first side wall portion extending from one end of the base, and a second side wall portion extending from another end of the base; the base, the first side wall portion and the second side wall portion jointly forming a receiving space for at least partially receiving a mating connector;   a plurality of insulating protrusions protruding into the receiving space;   a plurality of terminal modules, each terminal module being assembled to a corresponding insulating protrusion; and   a plurality of metal shield surrounding members, each metal shield surrounding member being sleeved on the corresponding insulating protrusion;   wherein the metal shield surrounding member comprises a surrounding portion and a mounting portion extending downwardly from the surrounding portion; the surrounding portion comprises a first side wall, a second side wall, a third side wall and a fourth side wall; the first side wall is disposed opposite to the third side wall, the second side wall is disposed opposite to the fourth side wall; the first side wall, the second side wall, the third side wall and the fourth side wall are enclosed to form a fully-enclosed shielding cavity;   the mounting portion comprises a sixth side wall, a seventh side wall and an eighth side wall; the sixth side wall is connected to the second side wall and is located on a same side of the metal shield surrounding member; the seventh side wall is connected to the third side wall and is located on a same side of the metal shield surrounding member; the eighth side wall is connected to the fourth side wall and is located on a same side of the metal shield surrounding member; and   the seventh side wall protrudes outwardly beyond the third side wall along a direction away from the third side wall; and the eighth side wall protrudes outwardly beyond the fourth side wall along a direction away from the fourth side wall.   
     
     
         2 . The backplane connector according to  claim 1 , wherein the sixth side wall is flush with the second side wall. 
     
     
         3 . The backplane connector according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the first side wall, the second side wall, the third side wall and the fourth side wall comprises a deflection portion which is bent inwardly to guide insertion of the mating connector. 
     
     
         4 . The backplane connector according to  claim 1 , wherein the mounting portion comprises a fifth side wall, the fifth side wall, the sixth side wall, the seventh side wall and the eighth side wall are enclosed to form another fully-enclosed shielding cavity. 
     
     
         5 . The backplane connector according to  claim 4 , wherein the fifth side wall is connected to the first side wall and is located on a same side of the metal shield surrounding member; and the fifth side wall is flush with the first side wall. 
     
     
         6 . The backplane connector according to  claim 4 , wherein the metal shield surrounding member comprises a first positioning protrusion located between the seventh side wall and the third side wall, and a second positioning protrusion located between the eighth side wall and the fourth side wall;
 the receiving groove comprises a main groove located in the middle, a first groove located on one side of the main groove, and a second groove located on another side of the main groove; the mounting portion is fixed in the main groove; the first positioning protrusion is fixed in the first groove; the second positioning protrusion is fixed in the second groove.   
     
     
         7 . The backplane connector according to  claim 6 , wherein the first groove is an arc-shaped groove and is recessed in a direction away from the second groove; the second groove is an arc-shaped groove and is recessed in a direction away from the first groove; the base comprises a first support surface located at a bottom of the first groove, and a second support surface located at a bottom of the second groove;
 the first positioning protrusion abuts against the first support surface; the second positioning protrusion abuts against the second support surface.   
     
     
         8 . The backplane connector according to  claim 6 , wherein the main groove comprises a first arc-shaped surface, a second arc-shaped surface, a third arc-shaped surface and a fourth arc-shaped surface which are located at four corners of the main groove; the first groove is located in a middle of the first arc-shaped surface and the third arc-shaped surface; and the second groove is located in a middle of the second arc-shaped surface and the fourth arc-shaped surface. 
     
     
         9 . The backplane connector according to  claim 1 , wherein each terminal module comprises a first signal terminal, a second signal terminal, and an insulating block to which the first signal terminal and the second signal terminal are fixed;
 the insulating protrusion comprises a base portion, a first extension block extending upwardly from one side of the base portion, and a second extension block extending upwardly from another side of the base portion; the base portion defines a first terminal receiving hole and a second terminal receiving hole; the first signal terminal and the second signal terminal are accommodated in the first terminal receiving hole and the second terminal receiving hole, respectively;   the first extension block comprises a first side surface and a first positioning groove recessed inwardly from the first side surface; the second extension block comprises a second side surface and a second positioning groove recessed inwardly from the second side surface;   the third side wall comprises a first protruding tab protruding inwardly to be locked in the first positioning groove; the fourth side wall comprises a second protruding tab protruding inward to be locked in the second positioning groove.   
     
     
         10 . The backplane connector according to  claim 9 , wherein the first positioning groove does not extend inwardly through the first extension block; and the second positioning groove does not extend inwardly through the second extension block. 
     
     
         11 . A backplane connector, comprising:
 a housing comprising a base, a first side wall portion extending upwardly from one end of the base, and a second side wall portion extending upwardly from another end of the base; the base, the first side wall portion and the second side wall portion jointly forming a receiving space for at least partially receiving a mating connector; the base defining a plurality of receiving grooves extending through the base; and   a plurality of mounting modules assembled to the receiving grooves; each mounting module comprising an insulating body, a terminal module installed in the insulating body, and a metal shield surrounding member sleeved on the insulating body;   wherein the metal shield surrounding member comprises a surrounding portion and a mounting portion extending downwardly from the surrounding portion; the surrounding portion comprises a first side wall, a second side wall, a third side wall and a fourth side wall; the first side wall is disposed opposite to the third side wall; the second side wall is disposed opposite to the fourth side wall; the first side wall, the second side wall, the third side wall and the fourth side wall are enclosed to form a fully-enclosed shielding cavity;   the mounting portion comprises a fifth side wall, a sixth side wall, a seventh side wall and an eighth side wall; the fifth side wall is disposed opposite to the seventh side wall; the sixth side wall is disposed opposite to the eighth side wall; the fifth side wall, the sixth side wall, the seventh side wall and the eighth side wall are enclosed to form another fully-enclosed shielding cavity;   the fifth side wall is connected to the first side wall and is located on a same side of the metal shield surrounding member; the sixth side wall is connected to the second side wall and is located on a same side of the metal shield surrounding member; the seventh side wall is connected to the third side wall and is located on a same side of the metal shield surrounding member; the eighth side wall is connected to the fourth side wall and is located on a same side of the metal shield surrounding member; and   the mounting portion is fixed in a corresponding receiving groove.   
     
     
         12 . The backplane connector according to  claim 11 , wherein the seventh side wall protrudes outwardly beyond the third side wall; and the eighth side wall protrudes outwardly beyond the fourth side wall. 
     
     
         13 . The backplane connector according to  claim 12 , wherein the fifth side wall is flush with the first side wall; and the sixth side wall is flush with the second side wall. 
     
     
         14 . The backplane connector according to  claim 12 , wherein the metal shield surrounding member comprises a first positioning protrusion located between the seventh side wall and the third side wall, and a second positioning protrusion located between the eighth side wall and the fourth side wall;
 the receiving groove comprises a main groove located in the middle, a first groove located on one side of the main groove, and a second groove located on another side of the main groove; the mounting portion is fixed in the main groove; the first positioning protrusion is fixed in the first groove; the second positioning protrusion is fixed in the second groove.   
     
     
         15 . The backplane connector according to  claim 14 , wherein the first groove is an arc-shaped groove and is recessed in a direction away from the second groove; the second groove is an arc-shaped groove and is recessed in a direction away from the first groove; the base comprises a first support surface located at a bottom of the first groove, and a second support surface located at a bottom of the second groove;
 the first positioning protrusion abuts against the first support surface; the second positioning protrusion abuts against the second support surface.   
     
     
         16 . The backplane connector according to  claim 14 , wherein the main groove comprises a first arc-shaped surface, a second arc-shaped surface, a third arc-shaped surface and a fourth arc-shaped surface which are located at four corners of the main groove; the first groove is located in a middle of the first arc-shaped surface and the third arc-shaped surface; and the second groove is located in a middle of the second arc-shaped surface and the fourth arc-shaped surface. 
     
     
         17 . The backplane connector according to  claim 11 , wherein the metal shield surrounding member further comprises a plurality of mounting feet extending from the mounting portion; the backplane connector further comprises a mounting block mounted to a bottom of the housing; the mounting block defines a positioning slot to position the mounting portion; the plurality of mounting feet pass through the mounting block. 
     
     
         18 . The backplane connector according to  claim 11 , wherein the terminal module comprises a first signal terminal, a second signal terminal, and an insulating block to which the first signal terminal and the second signal terminal are fixed;
 the insulating body comprises a base portion, a first extension block extending upwardly from one side of the base portion; and a second extension block extending upwardly from another side of the base portion; the base portion defines a first terminal receiving hole and a second terminal receiving hole; the first signal terminal and the second signal terminal are accommodated in the first terminal receiving hole and the second terminal receiving hole, respectively;   the first extension block comprises a first side surface and a first positioning groove recessed inwardly from the first side surface; the second extension block comprises a second side surface and a second positioning groove recessed inwardly from the second side surface;   the third side wall comprises a first protruding tab protruding inwardly to be locked in the first positioning groove; the fourth side wall comprises a second protruding tab protruding inward to be locked in the second positioning groove.   
     
     
         19 . The backplane connector according to  claim 18 , wherein the first positioning groove does not extend inwardly through the first extension block; and the second positioning groove does not extend inwardly through the second extension block. 
     
     
         20 . The backplane connector according to  claim 18 , wherein the first positioning groove extends upwardly through a top surface of the first extension block; and the second positioning groove extends upwardly through a top surface of the second extension block.